The Cat – Andrew Barton Paterson | Madhyamik English Question and Answer
The Cat by Andrew Barton Paterson is an important prose chapter for WBBSE Class 10 English. The prose looks at the cat from an unusual point of view and contrasts its quiet, comfortable daytime behaviour with its alert and adventurous nature after evening begins.
The chapter presents the cat as an animal with independence, athletic ability, hunting instincts and a strong attachment to familiar surroundings. It also humorously describes how the cat behaves around family members and guests. ([bhugolshiksha.com](https://www.bhugolshiksha.com/2026/04/the-cat-prose-andrew-barton-petarson-madhyamik-english-question-and-answer/))
The Cat – Madhyamik English Question and Answer
This article brings together the important objective, short-answer and descriptive questions from the chapter for structured revision. The answers have been rewritten in clear English while keeping the chapter-specific ideas intact. ([bhugolshiksha.com](https://www.bhugolshiksha.com/2026/04/the-cat-prose-andrew-barton-petarson-madhyamik-english-question-and-answer/))
The Cat – MCQ Questions and Answers
1. Most people think that the cat is —
(A) Wise (B) Clever (C) Unintelligent (D) Intelligent2. The cat cares little for anything but mice and —
(A) Soup (B) Juice (C) Water (D) Milk3. One can see the cat as it really is in the —
(A) Morning (B) Afternoon (C) Night (D) Evening4. Sometimes the cat watches —
(A) A squirrel-hole (B) A mouse-hole (C) A snake-hole (D) A hole in the wall5. In the prose, the cat is compared with a —
(A) Rat (B) Human being (C) Author (D) Dog6. A cat is not a —
(A) Fighter (B) Swimmer (C) Athlete (D) Acrobat7. A cat is a fighter with —
(A) Ferocity (B) Mildness (C) Generosity (D) Indifference8. In the daytime the cat mostly remains —
(A) In the jungle (B) In the backyard (C) On the roof (D) In the house9. To idle the time away, a cat —
(A) Sleeps (B) Walks lazily (C) Watches a mouse-hole (D) Eats food10. The author highlights a cat’s —
(A) Intelligence (B) Foolishness (C) Idleness (D) Ferocity11. The cat rubs itself against the family members’ legs and noisily —
(A) Purrs (B) Barks (C) Howls (D) Mews12. The guest affects to be very much —
(A) Amused (B) Annoyed (C) Unhappy (D) Upset13. If there is a guest at the table, the cat is —
(A) Uncivil (B) Indifferent (C) Rude (D) Civil14. The cat wants the guest to —
(A) Give it something to eat (B) Leave the house (C) Fondle it (D) Ignore it15. The guest gives the cat a piece of —
(A) Fruit (B) Fish (C) Vegetable (D) Meat16. After being scratched, the guest really wants to —
(A) Take the cat on his lap (B) Kick the cat out (C) Remain indifferent (D) Stay quiet17. The cat saunters down its own —
(A) Courtyard (B) Backyard (C) Shipyard (D) Front yard18. The cat skips to the roof of an empty —
(A) Room (B) Floor (C) Shed (D) Corridor19. In a new land, the cat would have to learn new —
(A) History (B) Manners (C) Culture (D) Geography20. True life for cats begins —
(A) In the morning (B) At night (C) In the evening (D) In the afternoon21. In the evening, the cat walks like a —
(A) Panther (B) Tiger (C) Lion (D) Cow22. Cats are described as —
(A) Sports persons (B) Grim singers (C) Meek fighters (D) Grim fighters23. From the top of the shed, the cat calls to its —
(A) Family members (B) Kindred (C) Foes (D) Masters24. In the evening, outside the house, the cat becomes a —
(A) Gentle animal (B) Fighter (C) Mediator (D) Hunter25. When the family moves elsewhere, the cat —
(A) Goes with them (B) Leaves permanently (C) Looks for another place (D) Remains in the same placeThe Cat – True or False with Supporting Statements
1. The cat is not fond of ease.
Answer: False.
2. The cat has no athletic skills.
Answer: False.
3. The cat takes things easily.
Answer: True.
4. Like human beings, cats have ways of passing their free time.
Answer: True.
5. A cat remains the same in the daytime and evening.
Answer: False.
The Cat – Short Questions and Answers
1. How does the author describe a cat?
Answer: The author presents the cat as an animal with a distinctive personality and suggests that it has greater character than many human beings. It is shown as an athlete, acrobat and fierce fighter.
2. What happens to a cat when evening falls?
Answer: As evening arrives, the cat’s real and active nature becomes visible. It leaves its relaxed daytime behaviour and becomes alert and energetic.
3. What do most people think about cats?
Answer: Most people think that cats are unintelligent, fond of comfort and mainly interested in mice and milk.
4. When does the cat appear at tea-time?
Answer: The cat appears when the family sits down for tea and tries to make its presence noticed.
5. To whom is the cat especially civil?
Answer: The cat is especially polite to the guest at the table because it expects the guest to have good food.
6. How is a guest usually treated at the family table?
Answer: A guest is normally offered the best food by the family.
7. How does the cat try to get food from a guest?
Answer: The cat tries to obtain food from the guest by rubbing against the family members and scratching the guest’s legs when necessary.
8. What does the guest want to do with the cat?
Answer: After being scratched, the guest wants to drive the cat out of the house.
9. What does the cat do after tea-time is over?
Answer: After tea-time, the cat casually leaves the room and goes outside.
10. With what is the cat’s evening movement compared?
Answer: The cat’s evening movement is compared with the movement of a panther.
11. When does the cat’s true life begin?
Answer: The cat’s true life begins in the evening when it leaves the house and becomes active outside.
12. Why does a cat move noiselessly?
Answer: The cat moves silently because it has to remain alert and watchful of possible enemies.
13. Why does the cat stretch itself several times?
Answer: The cat stretches itself to make sure that its muscles are ready for action.
14. How does the cat look in the evening?
Answer: In the evening the cat appears like a grim and determined fighter.
15. Where does an old cat go for sport?
Answer: An old cat goes to suburban backyards for sport and adventure.
16. What are the cat’s adventures compared with?
Answer: The cat’s adventures are compared with the adventures of the Knights of King Arthur.
17. Why does the cat walk stealthily on the other side of the fence?
Answer: It walks stealthily because it remains cautious about enemies while moving through unfamiliar territory.
18. What reproach is commonly made against cats?
Answer: Cats are often reproached for being more attached to their homes than to the people living in them.
The Cat – Descriptive Questions and Answers
1. How is the cat compared with human beings at the beginning of the prose?
Answer: At the beginning of the prose, the author presents the cat as an animal with a remarkable personality. Unlike the common idea that a cat is merely lazy and unintelligent, the author shows it as an athlete, an acrobat and a fierce fighter. The cat is also shown as an animal that enjoys life in its own distinctive way.
2. What does the cat do throughout the day?
Answer: During the day the cat remains around the house and enjoys a relaxed existence. It accepts the attention of the household and may spend a considerable amount of time watching a mouse-hole as a way of passing its time.
3. How does a cat pass away its time?
Answer: The cat sometimes watches a mouse-hole for an hour or two. The activity gives it something to do and keeps it occupied instead of allowing boredom to take over.
4. How does the cat make its presence known at the tea-table?
Answer: At tea-time, the cat comes near the family, purrs loudly and rubs itself against their legs. In this way it makes the people notice it and hopes to receive some food.
5. Why is the cat particularly civil to a guest?
Answer: The cat knows that a guest is likely to be given good food. It therefore behaves politely towards the guest because it wants to obtain a share of that food.
6. How does the cat receive the piece of fish from the guest?
Answer: The cat accepts the fish cautiously. Its behaviour also suggests that it expects more, while its expression makes its desire clear when the guest does not immediately understand it.
7. What is the guest’s reaction when the cat scratches him?
Answer: The guest feels both pain and anger after being scratched. However, because the family is delighted by the cat’s behaviour, the guest tries to control his reaction.
8. How do we know that the cat understands the guest’s anger?
Answer: The cat understands the danger and keeps a safe distance from the guest’s boots. Before eating, it moves away to a place where the guest cannot easily reach it.
9. What does the cat do after leaving the room?
Answer: The cat goes through the backyard, climbs onto the fence and then reaches the roof of an empty shed. The movement shows its freedom, confidence and agility.
10. What does the cat do on top of the shed?
Answer: On the shed, the cat stretches itself, uses its claws and then calls to its kindred. These actions mark the beginning of its energetic evening life.
11. Why is a cat usually unwilling to leave its country?
Answer: A cat is attached to the place it already knows. Its familiar surroundings contain its friends and landmarks, so it does not easily want to abandon them for an unknown place.
12. What does a cat do when its family moves elsewhere?
Answer: Instead of leaving its familiar surroundings, the cat may remain at the old house and accept the new occupants. The prose uses this behaviour to emphasize the cat’s attachment to its territory and familiar environment.
The Cat – Key Themes and Important Ideas
| Theme | How it appears in the prose |
|---|---|
| Independence | The cat prefers to move and act according to its own nature. |
| Day and Evening Contrast | The relaxed daytime cat becomes active, alert and adventurous in the evening. |
| Intelligence | The cat observes people and situations carefully, especially when food or danger is involved. |
| Athletic Ability | The cat climbs, jumps, stretches and moves with great agility. |
| Territorial Attachment | The cat remains strongly attached to its known home and surroundings. |
| Humour | The author uses the cat’s behaviour around family members and guests in a humorous way. |
The central contrast in the prose is between the cat’s comfortable daytime life inside the house and its energetic, alert and adventurous life after evening. This contrast is especially useful when preparing short and descriptive questions.
The Cat – Important Points for Revision
- The cat is commonly considered unintelligent and fond of comfort.
- The author presents the cat as an athlete, acrobat and fierce fighter.
- During the day, the cat spends most of its time around the house.
- Watching a mouse-hole is one of its ways of passing time.
- The cat becomes particularly polite when a guest is present at the table.
- It expects the guest to have good food and wants its share.
- The cat becomes more active and alert as evening approaches.
- Its evening movement is compared with that of a panther.
- The cat travels through backyards, fences and sheds during its adventures.
- It calls to its kindred from the roof of the shed.
- The cat is cautious around enemies and moves stealthily when necessary.
- It is strongly attached to familiar surroundings.
- When a family moves, the cat may remain behind rather than leave its territory.
The Cat – Quick Revision Table
| Question Area | Quick Answer |
|---|---|
| Writer | Andrew Barton Paterson |
| Cat’s common image | Unintelligent and comfort-loving |
| Daytime behaviour | Relaxed and mostly inside the house |
| Favourite pastime | Watching a mouse-hole |
| Special behaviour at tea-time | It purrs and rubs against people |
| Food from the guest | A piece of fish |
| Evening comparison | A panther |
| Evening character | A fierce fighter |
| Adventure | Backyards, fences and the roof of a shed |
| Attachment | Strong attachment to familiar surroundings |
How to Prepare The Cat for Madhyamik English
Start with the complete prose and understand the contrast between the cat’s daytime and evening life. Then revise the factual details used in MCQs, followed by the short and descriptive questions.
- Read the prose carefully before memorising answers.
- Learn the major characteristics of the cat described by the author.
- Remember the important details related to the guest, fish and tea-table.
- Revise the evening transformation and the cat’s outdoor adventures.
- Practise both objective and written-answer formats.
For WBBSE and Madhyamik study resources, you can explore the Cademy Study Materials section.
Explore Cademy Study Materials →Conclusion
The Cat is an engaging prose chapter in which Andrew Barton Paterson presents the cat as much more than a lazy household animal. The prose combines humour, observation and contrast to show the cat’s comfort during the day and its active, alert and adventurous nature in the evening.
For Madhyamik English preparation, students should pay particular attention to the cat’s behaviour at tea-time, its interaction with the guest, its evening activities, its athletic qualities, and its attachment to familiar surroundings. Regular practice of MCQs, True or False, short questions and descriptive answers will make revision more effective.